VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recently honored five alumni who have distinguished themselves in their respective professions and demonstrated service and dedication to their communities and to the University. The five individuals received the biennial College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alumni Medallion at a special celebration at the Inn at Villanova in Villanova, Pa. on October 4.

The Reverend Robert Hagan OSA, JD, ’87 CLAS and Joseph McCarthy ’84 CLAS, P’17, P ’20, received the 2017 Rev. Kail C. Ellis, OSA Alumni Medallion, named in honor of the Rev. Kail Ellis, OSA, PhD, assistant to the President, Dean Emeritus of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and associate professor of Political Science. Elise K. Scioscia ’08 CLAS, ’10 MA and Kelly Stoner ’08 CLAS are the recipients of the 2017 Young Alumni Medallion, which recognizes undergraduate alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years. Sue Franz ’89 PhD was honored with the Graduate Alumni Medallion, which recognizes an alumna or alumnus of the College’s master’s or PhD programs. The awards are bestowed on individuals who demonstrate a great capacity for creativity, innovation and contribution to the common good.

“The professional and philanthropic endeavors of the Reverend Robert Hagan, Joseph McCarthy, Elise Scioscia, Kelly Stoner and Sue Franz collectively reflect what we strive to be as a College,” said Adele Lindenmeyr, PhD, Dean, Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “They also represent the diverse talents and achievements of our graduates. We are proud to honor them and their commitment to truly making a difference in the lives of others. “

Rev. Kail C. Ellis, OSA, Alumni Medallion

The Rev. Robert Hagan, OSA, JD, '87 CLAS

The Rev. Robert Hagan, OSA, is associate athletic director and chaplain for the Villanova men’s basketball and football programs. As associate athletics director, Father Hagan helps to oversee the Office of Sports Medicine, focusing on matters of health and safety for our University’s 600 student athletes. As chaplain, Father Hagen is a constant presence on the sidelines and bench for all men’s basketball and football games. In addition to his on-field presence, he is responsible for leading each team’s pre- and post-game prayer.

Father Hagan received a BA in English from Villanova in 1987 and went on to earn a JD from Widener University School of Law in 1990. After receiving his law degree, he spent seven years as an attorney with Gillin and Associates, where he served as criminal defense counsel, in addition to handling contract negotiations, arbitrations and mediations. He also served as assistant counsel to the Solicitor for the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority and the Delaware County Register of Wills. He is a past member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Delaware County Bar Association and the Delaware County Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. At age 32, Father Hagan put the law aside to follow a call to enter the Order of St. Augustine. He served as chaplain at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and at the University of Maryland, College Park, and received a master’s degree in Theology from the Washington Theological Union in 2003.

Joseph McCarthy '84 CLAS

Joseph McCarthy is vice president, Metro Atlantic Business Unit for Bimbo Bakeries, the largest bakery company in the United States and baker of Americas’ favorite bakery brands including Entenmann’s cakes, Thomas’ English Muffins, Arnold and Stroehmann’s bread. Mr. McCarthy oversees $1 billion in revenue and 1,800 employees at the company. As of January 1, Mr. McCarthy will serve as President of Canada Bread Company, a division of Grupo Bimbo.

In his 18-year career at Bimbo Bakeries, he has won four major industry awards recognizing his leadership and philanthropy. Mr. McCarthy’s career began in the soft drink industry, where he held various sales and marketing positions for Coca-Cola. He is a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey Food Council and serves as vice Chairman on the board of directors. Mr. McCarthy’s community service includes involvement with Covenant House, where he led a group of food Industry executives raising over $5 million for Covenant House in NYC. Mr. McCarthy is a board member of the Friends of the Food Industry, an organization which helps members of the food industry and their families through financial crises. Mr. McCarthy also serves as a board member of Back on My Feet, an organization focused on helping the homeless in New York City. He holds a BA in Economics from Villanova University and attended the Executive Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and the Executive Seminar Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

2017 Young Alumni Medallion

Elise K. Scioscia ’08 CLAS, ’10 MA

Elise Scioscia is director of public policy and prevention at Women Against Abuse (WAA), Pennsylvania’s largest domestic violence service provider and advocacy organization. She has been with the organization since 2011 and currently oversees prevention, advocacy and systems change efforts for WAA, including outreach to federal, state and local legislators and agency administrators. Her strategic engagement with local officials—which highlighted critical shortages in emergency shelter beds for survivors of domestic violence—facilitated the establishment of $2.7 million in annual funds by Philadelphia City Council for WAA to launch a second safe haven for survivors. Ms. Scioscia serves as chair of the WAA Advocacy Committee, where she leads staff efforts to reduce barriers to safety for survivors of domestic violence. Ms. Scioscia holds a MA in Strategic Communication from Villanova University as well as a BA in Honors and Communication.

Kelly Stoner ’08 CLAS

Kelly Stoner is an associate conservation scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Bozeman, Mont., where she leads the organization’s efforts to restore wild, free-ranging bison to Native American tribal lands in the American West.

Ms. Stoner received a BA in Communication from Villanova University in 2008 with minors in Biology and German. Following graduation, Ms. Stoner hand-raised orphan cheetah cubs at the Cheetah Conservation Fund, supported Dr. Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee conservation programs at the Jane Goodall Institute and served as a program coordinator at Conservation International in Washington, D.C. In 2011 she was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Fellowship to Botswana in environmental studies, and spent a year performing research with the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust. She recently returned from a year in Tanzania, where she led a team of nearly 70 Tanzanians at the Ruaha Carnivore Project. Ms. Stoner earned a master’s degree in Environmental Science from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies in 2014. Among her honors include selection as a leadership fellow in the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders training program for promising early-career conservation professionals.

2017 Graduate Alumni Medallion

Sue Franz ’89 PhD

Ms. Franz is vice president, Chemistry at Gentex Corporation, a global, high technology electronics company, where she manages chemistry research in electrochromic application and product development. She has been with the firm for 20 years, holding positions of increasing responsibility and impact. In 2005, she led the team to set up a subsidiary of Gentex in China. Born and raised in China, Ms. Franz received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Analytical Chemistry from Jilin University in Changchun, China. Arriving in the United States in 1985 on full scholarships from Villanova, she completed her PhD in Chemistry at Villanova in 1989. She also holds a master’s degree in Management from Aquinas College and a Six Sigma Black Belt certification from Villanova University.

Ms. Franz is a recipient of the 2017 Science Technology Engineering and Manufacturing STEP Ahead Award from Women in Manufacturing and the Manufacturing Institute. Committed to community service, Sue established an endowed college scholarship fund for internationally-adopted children. She is a board member for Ready for School, an organization based in Holland, Mich. dedicated to ensuring children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed and vice president of the advisory board for Kids Food Basket, organization based in Holland that provides free dinner to children in low income families. She is also an active member of International Rotary Club.

About Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has cultivated knowledge, understanding and intellectual courage for a purposeful life in a challenged and changing world. With more than 40 majors across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, it is the oldest and largest of Villanova’s colleges, serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students each year. The College is committed to a teacher-scholar model, offering outstanding undergraduate and graduate research opportunities and a rigorous core curriculum that prepares students to become critical thinkers, strong communicators and ethical leaders with a truly global perspective.

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About Villanova

Villanova University was founded in 1842 by the Order of St. Augustine. To this day, Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition is the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University’s six colleges.